Steampunk fiction is a popular genre that has a bigger fanbase than many people would have guessed. It is a young genre that has carved a niche for itself over the decades. Keep reading to find out the best steampunk books of all time!
What is Steampunk Fiction?
Not everyone will be familiar with the term steampunk. It is a subgenre of science fiction that focuses on technology that hasn’t developed beyond steam. Authors use their creativity to predict what happens in this “era” as they introduce concepts that revolve around the technology available.
The Best Steampunk Books of All Time
- Against the Day by Thomas Pynchon
- Agatha H and the Airship City by Phil & Kaja Foglio
- Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
- Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
- Homunculus by James P. Blaylock
- Lady of Devices by Shelley Adina
- Infernal Devices by K.W. Jeter
- Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
- Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve
- Morlock Night by K.W. Jeter
- Perdido Street Station by China Miéville
- Soulless by Gail Carriger
- Steampunk Edited by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer
- The Alchemy of Stone by Ekaterina Sedia
- The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers
- The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson
- The Difference Engine by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling
- The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
- The Half-Made World by Felix Gilman
- The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook
- The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
- The Time Machine by H. G. Wells
- The Time Ships by Stephen Baxter
- Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
Frankenstein
Frankenstein is a classic that is a must read no matter what your favorite genre is. It is a sci-fi novel that is also thought provoking. The novel is considered the first sci-fi novel and holds up well centuries later. Even if you don’t like reading classics, this is a must read and one i wholeheartedly recommend.
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Classic novels are always fun to read because you are traveling back in time. You also get to see these popular novels that influenced society as well as other works of literature. We all have heard the term Jekyll and Hyde and this novel is the reason why it is used to this day. This novel is also credited with defining the gothic horror genre.
The Time Machine
The concept of time travel by a vehicle moving forward or purposely travel forward or backward in time was first introduced in The Time Machine by H. G. Wells. This was Wells’ first novel and it has become memorable for its invention of time travel, a term Wells is credited as creating. While this novel does leave a lot to be desired, its influence on the science fiction genre cannot be ignored.
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
Jules Verne is an amazing writer and his novels are interesting to say the least. Yes, it has a lot of psuedo-science at times and goes into too much detail but they are still great novels. This was during a time when research was very limited and no other author was writing about these topics. Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea is an enjoyable read
Even if you aren’t familiar with the subgenre, there are classics that you will recognize on the list. These novels have defined this subgenre and has gained a huge following over the decades. How many of these steampunk books have you of all time list. What books should we have included on this list? Let us know in the comments below!
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You can’t use a word to describe the definition of the same word! As in “Not everyone will be familiar with the term steampunk. It is a subgenre of science fiction that focuses on technology that hasn’t developed beyond steampunk”. See?
Thanks for pointing it out. I’ll rewrite it
You forgot Revenger by Alastair Reynolds. Perhaps not strictly Steampunk, but a perfect distillation of the Victorian sensibilities and tone of the genre.
How about a list of the best “lost world” novels (in which modern man discovers a previously unexplored island, continent, etc., where dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals are still very much alive)?
I would add “Aurorarama” by Jean-Christophe Valtat
You might find Paul Eccentric’s The Periwinkle Perspective series interesting. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Periwinkle-Perspective-Giant-Step-ebook/dp/B08JJBRW8B/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=2SHCTHAD9L1BT&keywords=the+periwinkle+perspective&qid=1680376758&sprefix=the+ortiwinkle+perdoective%2Caps%2C120&sr=8-1
I’m somewhat shocked that ‘The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack’ (Burton & Swinburne #1) by Mark Hodder didn’t make the list. One of the best I have read. The series is excellent. Lavie Tidhar’s The Bookman series also deserves a mention.
I don’t think The Diamond Age is steampunk. Just my opinion.
Das Siegel von Rapgar von Alexej pehov.
Würde ich hinzufügen.
Ansonsten danke für deine Arbeit 👍
If you’re a fan of steampunk, I feel like Senlin Ascends and its sequels, by Josiah Bancroft, are essential reading.
A Nomad of the Time Streams – Michael moorcock
The Diamond Age isn’t steam punk. It is set in a future society that chooses to live by Victorian and Edwardian standards from the late 1800s to early 1900s, hence The Young Lady’s Illustrated Primer, also a cool book within a book that is way more subversive than the name suggests.
The technology in that book is future tech, it’s about the affects of nano technology on all aspects of life. The title The Diamond Age refers to them being so advanced they can build stuff out of its constituent atoms so everything is coated in diamond to protect it.
The Diamond Age is a Bildungsroman, but not steam punk
Thanks for your list. There are some that are unknown to me. I look forward to exploring them. Cheers.